Meerkats, small mammals of the mongoose family, are highly social and cooperative. Living in groups up to 50 individuals, they rely on intricate communication systems. Sound is central to their daily lives, coordinating activities and maintaining group cohesion in challenging habitats. Their vocalizations are crucial for survival and community structure.
A Symphony of Sounds
Meerkats possess a diverse vocal repertoire, considered one of the largest among non-primate mammals, featuring various sounds each with distinct auditory characteristics. Their alarm calls vary significantly based on the type of threat and its urgency. A high-pitched bark might signal a general warning, while an urgent squeal indicates immediate, close-range danger, prompting rapid responses from the group. A more distant threat might elicit nervous chattering, allowing the group to assess the situation without panic.
When foraging, meerkats produce soft, short-range sounds known as “close calls,” often at regular intervals. These continuous vocalizations keep individuals connected as they dig for food, a task limiting visual contact. Another common sound is the “short note,” a simple signal broadcasting an individual’s presence without expecting a direct reply. Meerkats also make a distinctive “vurruk-vurruk” sound while searching for food.
Meerkats also emit purring sounds, indicating contentment and comfort, particularly when relaxed or interacting peacefully within the group. These purrs are typically soft squeaks and grunts. Purring can also occur in stressful situations, potentially serving as a self-soothing mechanism. This wide array of vocalizations, differing in pitch, rhythm, and volume, allows meerkats to convey nuanced information, adapting their calls to specific social and environmental contexts.
The Purpose of Meerkat Calls
Meerkat sounds serve specific functions within their social structure, enabling coordinated behaviors essential for their well-being. Alarm calls are important for group safety, informing others about potential dangers. Depending on the predator type—whether an aerial threat like an eagle or a terrestrial one such as a jackal—and its proximity, the specific alarm call triggers different defensive behaviors, such as seeking shelter or preparing to defend. Sentinel meerkats, stationed at elevated points, use these calls to warn the group, benefiting the entire community, especially young pups.
Contact calls, particularly “close calls,” are important for maintaining group cohesion during foraging expeditions. As meerkats spread out to dig for prey, these calls help them track each other’s locations, ensuring no member becomes separated. Researchers have observed that meerkats adjust their calling rates based on their proximity to group members, creating “vocal hotspots” that can guide the movement of the entire group towards areas of higher density. This acoustic coordination is important, especially when visual cues are obscured by vegetation or digging activities.
Meerkat vocalizations also play a role in coordinating group movements and teaching their young. “Move calls” initiate departure from a location, with the group often moving together if enough individuals join the call. Adults use specific calls to teach pups how to handle dangerous prey, such as scorpions. Older meerkats gradually introduce dead, disabled, and then live prey, adapting their teaching method to the pups’ developmental stage. This systematic vocal guidance helps the young acquire essential survival skills, highlighting the sophisticated nature of meerkat communication.